splunk-security_content/detections/endpoint/windows_autoit3_execution.yml

name: Windows AutoIt3 Execution
id: 0ecb40d9-492b-4a57-9f87-515dd742794c
version: 9
date: '2025-10-06'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
data_source:
- Sysmon EventID 1
- Windows Event Log Security 4688
- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
description: |
  The following analytic detects the execution of AutoIt3, a scripting
  language often used for automating Windows GUI tasks and general scripting. 
  It identifies instances where AutoIt3 or its variants are executed by searching for process names
  or original file names matching 'autoit3.exe'. 
  This activity is significant because attackers frequently use AutoIt3 to automate malicious actions, such as executing malware. 
  If confirmed malicious, this activity could lead to unauthorized code execution, 
  system compromise, or further propagation of malware within the environment.
search: |
  | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` 
    count min(_time) as firstTime 
    max(_time) as lastTime 
  from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where 
  (
    Processes.process_name = "autoit*.exe" 
    OR 
    Processes.original_file_name = "autoit*.exe"
  )
  by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name 
     Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec 
     Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id
     Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path 
     Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid 
     Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level
     Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user 
     Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product
  | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
  | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
  | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
  | `windows_autoit3_execution_filter`
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection
  and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related
  telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search,
  you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process.
  Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must
  be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to
  the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint`
  data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field
  names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: False positives may be present if the application is legitimately
  used, filter by user or endpoint as needed.
references:
- https://github.com/PaloAltoNetworks/Unit42-timely-threat-intel/blob/main/2023-10-25-IOCs-from-DarkGate-activity.txt
drilldown_searches:
- name: View the detection results for - "$dest$" and "$user$"
  search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$" user = "$user$"'
  earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
  latest_offset: $info_max_time$
- name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$" and "$user$"
  search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$",
    "$user$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
    as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk
    Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all)
    as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics"
    by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
  earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
  latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
  message: Execution of AutoIt3 detected. The source process is $parent_process_name$
    and the destination process is $process_name$ on $dest$ by
  risk_objects:
  - field: dest
    type: system
    score: 50
  - field: user
    type: user
    score: 50
  threat_objects:
  - field: parent_process_name
    type: parent_process_name
  - field: process_name
    type: process_name
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - Crypto Stealer
  - Handala Wiper
  - DarkGate Malware
  asset_type: Endpoint
  atomic_guid: []
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1059
  product:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  security_domain: endpoint
tests:
- name: True Positive Test
  attack_data:
  - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1059/autoit/sysmon.log
    source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
    sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog